Charging up…

I think renewable energy is a fantastic thing. I personally appreciate the aesthetic beauty of wind farms, I think solar panels can really dress up a roof and I love the idea of running my car on coconut oil.

With rising energy prices and growing environmental concerns, I totally agree that we need to exhaust every possibility to maximise our use of renewable energy and especially, to harness the magnificent power of the sun.

But is it possible to get too carried away?

Channelling the sun’s energy is exactly what Japanese lingerie manufacturers Triumph have done, in an original and rather bizarre way.

Their new offering, the ‘Photovoltaic–Powered Bra’ was recently unveiled at the Tokyo Ryutsu Center in advance of the 2008 G8 Hokkaido Tokyo Summit on environmental issues.

The climate friendly undergarment consists of a green bodice with a large solar panel attached to the front (with matching green knickers of course).

Triumph claim that if exposed to the sunlight for a few hours a day, the panel is capable of generating enough electricity to power a mobile phone, ipod or other small portable device.

But alas, here is where the problem lies, in ‘exposing’ the panel. No outer garments can be worn over the bodice as the panel must be exposed to direct sunlight and this makes the design rather unpractical.

Unless you are Paris Hilton or Jodie Marsh, you probably wear clothes when you leave the house, and would thus cover the panel (as well as your dignity).

Triumph do point out that the panel is detachable, so there is ultimately no need to strip down to your underwear on your lunch hour, but then what is the point of attaching it to a bra? Why not create the photovoltaic t-shirt or jacket that would actually permit frequent usage?

Well, obviously, the bra is a publicity stunt. Triumph is known for its innovative lingerie designs which are really more a statement on world affairs than practical lady garments. Its previous creations include:    

• The “No! Shopping Bag” Bra – a lacy red number with padded cups that transforms into a reusable shopping bag, thus reducing your use of plastic carrier bags.
• The “My Chopsticks” Bra – a bra with cups designed as bowls of rice and miso soup, with a handy compartment for storing your personal chopsticks, thus reducing your use of disposable ones.
• The “Warmbiz Heated” Bra – a white faux-fur treat featuring microwaveable gel pads that can be heated and slipped into the cups, thus reducing your need for central heating.

Certainly, these are novelty bras, designed essentially for media coverage. But we cannot condemn Triumph for their marketing. No, if novelty bras are what it takes to bring energy issues to the public consciousness, then we should applaud Triumph for their original approach.

 This is the Modern World

….or the ‘down low’ should you be so inclined. Or perhaps even ‘the skinny’ for those of you in a Queen Latifah based urban comedy.

So, the latest technology to hit the high street is a HD ready, flat screen plasma TV with inbuilt Freesat. That’s a lot to take in isn’t it?

If, like me, you’re thinking ‘I want that so badly, but I don’t really know what it is’, then you had better read on. There’s a very important requirement that needs to be met.

Freesat is a free to air digital satellite television service launched but six weeks ago. Essentially a step up from existing Freeview technologies, Freesat receivers (be they separates or TV implants) make use of the additional capacity available on digital satellite broadcasting to offer high-definition channels.

Most free to air channels have been made available on Freesat, but due to contractual complications, the Freeview EPG cannot yet be duplicated on Freesat. Effectively, as Freesat evolves, more and more channels will become available.

As of this month however, Freesat viewers get an added bonus not available to Freeview customers, in that the BBC and ITV HD channels will appear exclusively on the service. That’s why Gary Lineker has been getting so revved up about the possibilities of watching Euro 2008 in HD before kick-off in each game, just in case you were wondering where his sudden enthusiasm for digital broadcast systems had come from.

So where do the new plasmas fit in?

Well, the Panasonic PZ81 plasma series is the first in the UK to offer built-in Freesat HD compatible tuners. The PZ81 range is available in 50in, 46in and 42in sizes, and boasts a full 1920 x 1080 HD resolution.

Now, here’s the important bit. Although the plasma comes replete with Freesat tuner, you still need a satellite dish to access the service. This is an issue that still seems lost on most potential Freesat customers.

Before you dive in, consider the full cost and implications. If it helps, production of the PZ81 series is lead-free, and each plasma houses an ‘Eco’ function which moderates power consumption.